Author: ryan

Ryan Anderson (that's me!) is the editor & founder of MNBeer. Much has changed since the fall of 2005 and I'm proud to have been a part of it all. Sometime I'll tell you about my grand theory that links craft brewing to punk rock. Just ask.

The Axeman Leaveth: Todd Haug Steps Down at Surly Brewing

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Where’s the beard? Todd Haug on Surly Brewing Co.’s first public tour.

Here’s the official and final word from Surly Brewing Co. TL:DR, Head of Brewing Operations at Surly Brewing Co., Todd Haug has resigned his position with the brewery to pursue new challenges. First and foremost, we wish him well – Surly Brewing got its start not long after I launched MNBeer.com and Todd and Omar have been huge supporters of the site for as long as I can remember.

It’s a sad day. Todd & Linda, Surly Brewing folks… we’re thinking about all y’all today. Cheers!

 

After more than 10 years setting the pace of the craft beer revolution in Minnesota, Surly Brewing Co., Head of Brewing Operations Todd Haug has resigned his position at the Twin Cities brewery.

“I’d like to thank our family, friends and fans – Surly Nation – for always believing in our vision. It never gets old to hear people tell you how much they enjoy your beer.  Omar and I set out with the modest goal to build a brewery so we could create a different kind of craft beer – the kind we wanted to drink – and I think we achieved that.”

Todd earned a reputation for refusing to brew-to-style. He defined the undefinable and brewed beer his way, which was rarely the easy way, earning the brewery gold medals in the process.

Omar Ansari, Founder and President of Surly Brewing says, “Todd has been an incredibly influential part of Surly since the beginning and was instrumental in building the brewery from the ground-up, often with his own two hands; brewing, welding, making connections and forming collaborations to establish the irreverent brand it is today. His talent is undeniable, and he will always be a huge part of who we are. He will be missed.”

Todd is stepping down from his role to pursue other opportunities and challenges in the industry that he has worked in for 25 years. The future is bright, and adventure awaits.

“I leave my brewhouses in the extremely capable hands of our co-lead brewers and the innovative brewing team we’ve mentored together. I eagerly look forward to seeing what the next generation of Surly brewers will create,” says Haug. “This is an opportunity for them to take the torch and continue the legacy we’ve been building for 10 years now.”

It’s been a hell of a ride with Todd in the front seat, keeping the music loud and the speed fast. He’s the wizard, the bitter brewer and the creative genius.

Surly Nation thanks you.

Darkness Eve at Stub and Herbs Tonight!

Darkness Eve at Stub & Herb's \m/Our friends at Stub and Herbs have been throwing a great “Darkness Eve” event as long as we can remember (perhaps started with the 2nd Darkness Day?) and this year looks to be no exception. Starting at 7pm, they’ll have plenty of dark and forbidding beers and other special things. Special taps below:

Surly: Furious, Hell, Todd, Damien, Pentagram, Double Barrel Pentagram, Furious Black, One, Two, Three, Four, Nein, Ten, Blutpakt, Mother of The Gut, 2015 Smoke, Simpsons (Nitro), ’15 Darkness and ’16 Darkness.

Get Fresh With Indeed

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Do you like hops? How about fresh, straight from the bine Mosaic hops? Indeed has a hookup for you. Starting this week, you’ll find their Fresh Hop Ale at bars and restaurants around the Twin Cities. Indeed’s head brewer Josh selected these hops in September, they arrived at the brewery shortly thereafter, went right into a brew and now the beer is ready for your imbibing pleasure.

The folks at indeed tell us that the beer brings flavors of “dank, resinous hops” with some citrus and stone fruit. Look for a golden beer with a rocky head and plenty of hops in the nose.

Enjoy!

Find Fresh Hop Ale at all Red Cow locations, all Blue Door Pub locations, Pizza Luce Downtown, New Bohemia NE, Sporty’s Pub & Grill, The Unofficial, Up-Down, Stub & Herbs, Ray J’s NE, Reverie Cafe & Bar, The Bulldog Uptown, Mackenzie’s, Sweeney’s Saloon, Sea Salt, Grumpy’s NE, Muddy Waters, Dark Horse Bar & Eatery, Ox Cart Ale House, Buster’s on 28th and Smack Shack.

Bauhaus Over the Charts Series: Sky-Ten!

Next week, the fine folks over at Bauhaus Brew Labs debut their brand-spanking-new Over the Charts series, a series of beers that will offer a departure from the brewery’s more session-friendly offerings. “Over the Charts releases will be big, kickin’ beers with bold, bodacious flavors.”

The first beer from the Over the Charts series is a double IPA, Sky-Ten! With lots of hops and weighing in at 8.8% ABV, this beer should offer up a nice punch. Ready to try it? Nobody likes IPAs, do they?!

You’ll be able to find Sky-Ten! next week (starting 10/10) in 750 ml bottles at select retailers throughout the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota, as well as in the brewery’s Northeast Minneapolis taproom. You’ll also find it on draft at the taproom  and at select local bars and restaurants.

Oh, and watch the video. You know you want to…

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Town Hall Lanes Fresh Hop Fest

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Fresh hop beers are very popular these days, and the folks over at Town Hall take their hops seriously. This is why they are hosting the fourth annual Fresh Hop Fest on October 22nd from 1 – 5 pm at the bowling alley in south Minneapolis.

Fresh hop beers are expensive to make in that the demand is so high for them, and the timing (should be used within 24 – 48 hours) from bine to brew kettle is so crucial. The hops are in fact still wet (and can be quite a mess) so brewers need a larger volume of them than with dry pellets. We’d actually be better off defining these as wet hop beers.

The brewery itself consistently brews one of the best fresh hop beers every year, and they enjoy celebrating with other breweries—local and national. Fresh Hop 100 and Fresh Hop Dry will be available along with offerings from Badger Hill, Bad Weather Brewing, Castle Danger, Dark Horse Brewing, Indeed, Founders, Lagunitas, Sierra Nevada, Northbound Smokehouse, Odell, Lift Bridge, North Loop, and more.

Tickets are available for $7, but you’ll need tasting tickets ($2 each) if you want to enjoy the beers. VIP tickets are the way to go for this event. They’ll run you $37—but you get unlimited tastings, a tasting glass, exclusive VIP beers, a game of bowling, and a t-shirt.

If you’re a fan of hops, you should really check this out. These beers are only available once a year.

 

Saturday, October 22nd from 1 – 5 pm
Town Hall Lanes
5019 S 34th Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55417